𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟏𝟗: 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕

Adrian had been lying on his side, eyes half-closed, when he heard the faint sound of Leo’s sobbing. It started as a soft, muffled whimper, but soon grew louder, filled with raw emotion. His heart clenched at the sound, a deep-seated instinct driving him to comfort Leo, to protect him from whatever fears were tormenting him.

He pushed the covers aside and quietly slipped out of his bed, padding softly across the room to where Leo lay. As he reached the edge of the bed, the sight of Leo curled up tightly, shoulders shaking with the force of his tears, nearly broke him. Adrian’s resolve to keep a distance, to not get too involved, crumbled in an instant.

“Leo,” Adrian whispered, his voice gentle as he reached out to touch Leo’s trembling shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here.”

Leo’s tear-streaked face turned towards Adrian, his eyes wide with lingering fear. Without thinking, Leo reached out, clutching Adrian’s arm as if it were a lifeline. “Don’t leave me,” Leo choked out, his voice trembling. “Please, Adrian. I don’t want to be alone. Not tonight.”

Adrian’s heart twisted at the sight of Leo’s vulnerability, the pain in his voice cutting through the walls Adrian had tried so hard to build. Without a second thought, Adrian climbed into the bed beside Leo, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close. Leo melted into the embrace, his sobs gradually subsiding as he buried his face in Adrian’s chest.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Adrian murmured, his voice soft as he ran his fingers through Leo’s hair, soothing him. “I’m right here. I promise.”

They lay there together in the dark, the only sounds in the room the steady rhythm of Adrian’s breathing and the occasional sniffle from Leo. The warmth of Adrian’s body pressed against his own began to calm Leo, the terror of the nightmare slowly fading away. Adrian’s arms felt like a protective barrier against the world, and Leo found himself clinging to him, seeking comfort in the man who had once been so distant.

After a few minutes, Leo tilted his head up slightly, his voice barely a whisper. “Adrian… what are we?”

Adrian stiffened slightly at the question, his mind racing. He hadn’t expected to have this conversation, not now, not like this. But Leo’s earnest eyes, still glistening with tears, searched his own for answers, and Adrian knew he couldn’t avoid it any longer.

“Leo…,” Adrian began, his voice gentle but unsure. “I don’t know if I have the right answer for that. What we had… what we have… it’s complicated.”

“Were we lovers?” Leo asked, his voice steady despite the lingering fragility.

Adrian sighed, his hand moving to cup the side of Leo’s face, thumb brushing away the tear tracks. “We were… once. But things got messy, dangerous. I had to keep you safe, and the only way I knew how was by staying away. But tonight… I don’t want to keep pushing you away.”

Leo’s eyes searched Adrian’s face for the truth, and what he saw there was a mixture of regret, longing, and something deeper—something that mirrored the feelings he had kept hidden for so long.

“So, what does that mean for us now?” Leo whispered, his voice carrying a note of hope.

Adrian hesitated for a moment, then tightened his embrace around Leo, pulling him even closer. “It means we figure it out together. No more running, no more hiding. If you want to, that is.”

Leo nodded against Adrian’s chest, a soft sigh of relief escaping him. “I do. I really do.”

Adrian pressed a soft kiss to the top of Leo’s head, the promise of a future shared between them lingering in the air. “Then we’ll figure it out, Leo. Together.”

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...